Pneumatic tire for bicycles.



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May 31, 1899 (No Model.)

rrn STATES Frio.

VILLIAM F.' HENDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO lVILLIAM D.COOPER AND WILLIS J. GROW, OF SAME PLACE.

PNEUMA'EIC TIRE. FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 649,053, dated May 8,190.0.

Application filed May 3l, 1899. Serial No. 718,803. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. HENDER- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Tiresfor Bicycles and other Vheeled Vehicles, of which' the following is afull, clear, and exactl desription, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and fuse the same. 'y

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires, and moreparticularly to that class termed punctureless, the prime object of thesame being to provide a pneumatic tire for bicycles, automobiles, andother wheeled vehicles in which the air-tubes shall not be susceptibleto wear or injury in ordinaryuse, that shall be cheap to manufacture,readily applied, inexpensive in operation, and that will afford thegreatest possible amount of service and resiliency.

My invention consists of a pneumatic tire composed of two air orpneumatic tubes of suitable material, preferably rubber and fabric, ofequal size, weight, and circumference, each provided with means forinflation and adapted to encircle the periphery of the rim or felly of awheel diametrically parallel thereon or therein; of a flexible bandwhich may be fixed or detachable, made of any suitable material,preferably rubber and fabric, having an oval or coniform periphery, andadapted to encircle and fully cover the peripheries of the saidair-tubes to constitute the tread of the tire and to protect the saidairtubes from puncture or injury, and of a third minor uninflated rubbertube or band of suitable size centrally disposed around\the rim or fellybetween and approximate to the said air-tubes.

My invention also consists in other details of construction,application, and combination of parts, which are hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, forminga part of thisspecification, the igure represents a cross-sectional view of myimproved tire, with the third minor tube interposed, applied to abicycle-wheel having the ordinary rim or felly, such as are in generaluse. The figure also represents a plain side view of the same, showingmeans that may be employed in attaching the tire to the rim or felly ofthe wheel, but are not claimed as essential either in the constructionor the successful operationof my tire. Therefore I do not confine myselfto the exact construction shown.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

A indicates the rim or felly of a wheel of the ordinary form in generaluse; but any form of rim affording a suitable and secure seat or bearingfor the tire may be employed, preferably those having a double or tripleconcaved or tubularly grooved periphery adapted to perfectly fit thetubes constituting the inner surface or base of the tire. Hence it willb'e observed that the application of my tire is not confined to anyspecial form of rims. l

B B indicate the two air or pneumatic tubes, of suitable material, ofequal size, weight, and circumference, each provided with suitable meansof iniiation and adapted to encircle the periphery of the rim or fellyof a wheel in the manner shown to afford a means of resiliency. B'indicates the third and minor uninflated rubber tube or band of suitablesize centrally disposed around the said rim or felly between andapproximate to the said tubes B B to afford a central bearing andincrease the solidity of the tire.

C indicates the flexible band or ring, having an oval or coniformperiphery and a double concaved or tubularly-grooved inner surfaceadapted to encircle and fully cover the peripheries of the saidair-tubes B B to 'constitute the tread of the tire. In the side view ofthe drawing, c indicates lugs or extensions of the outer edges of thetread-band C, and C buttons or other means of attaching same to the rimor felly of a wheel. These are shown only as a means that maybe employedto further protect the said air-tubes B B over which they pass frominjury and more securely retain the tire in position, but are notclaimed as a part of or essential to my invention or the successfuloperation of my improved tire and may be used or not used withoutinterfering with or departing from the scope of my invention, theessential features of which are the combination of the two air-tubes BB, the tread-band C, and the third minor tube or band B', interposed,applied circumferentially to the rim or felly A of a bicycle or otherwheel, and secured in position thereon or therein by the application ofa suitable adhesive substance and the inflation of the said air-tubesexclusive of any other means of fastening.

The minor tube or band B' is not claimed as an essential part of thetire or necessary to its application or successful operation, but as ameans of regulating the resiliency of the tire, which is eiiected by theuse and non-use of the said tube B', as is clearly observed.

It will be further observed that in the construction of myimproved tireit is adapted to be applied tothe ordinary rim or felly in use or anyspecial form desired and that it is rendered punctureless by theair-tubes being entirely protected by the tread-band C.

In the application of my tire the air-tubes B B are deflated and,together with the treadband C, are placed in position on the rim A, towhich has first been applied a supply of adhesivesubst-ance. Theair-tubes B B are then fully inflated, thus securing them, together withthe tread-band C, to the rim or felly of the wheel.

The minor tube or band B when employed is first centrally disposedaround the rim or felly of the wheel in the position shown.

It will be yet further observed that in consequence of the air-tubes B Bbeing entirely protected from injury and only affording the means ofresiliency they may be of much lighter construction than the ordinarytire,

thus equalizin g the expense and Weight of my tire with that of theordinary tires in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new andimproved, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a pneumatic tire for bicycles and other wheeled vehicles, thecombination, with two circular air or pneumatic tubes of equal size,weight and circumference, made of any suitable material, and adapted toencircle the periphery of the rim or felly of a Wheel diametricallyparallel thereon or therein; means for the introduction. and retentionof air under equal pressure in said tubes; a detachable 'or fixediiexible band or ring, composed of rubber and fabric, having an oval orconiform periphery, and a double concavcd or tu bularlygrooved innersurface, and adapted to encircle and fully cover the peripheries of thesaid air-tubes and bind tightly thereon when fully in Hated,constituting the tread of the tire; a third minor uninflated rubber tubeor band of suitable size and circumference centrally disposed aroundsaid rim or felly between and approximate to the said air-tubes; thewhole adapted to be applied circumferentially upon or within the rim orfelly of a wheel separately or together, and secured in positionexclusively by the full inliation of the said air-tubes and theapplication to the said rim of any suitable adhesive substance,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have signed this speciiication, in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses, this 29th day of May, 1899.

W. F. HENDERSON. [L s] Wi tuesses:

J. R. BELL, J. HooPEs.

